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Arctic Melt Speeds Up

Some temps 10 degrees hotter than normal

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 16, 2008 9:27 AM CST

(Newser) – The Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the world, scientists have found, in a phenomenon not expected for at least another decade. This fall, temperatures in some areas of the Arctic were as much as 10 degrees warmer than normal thanks to Arctic amplification, which could mean the Arctic has already passed a “point of no return” in which summers will be ice-free, the Independent reports.

Arctic amplification occurs when the ice melts, leaving the water’s surface darker and thus more heat-absorbent. When the sun sets, that heat is released into the atmosphere, increasing temperatures. Amplification has long been predicted, but scientists now say it’s been happening for the past 5 years. “Simply put, it's a case of we hate to say we told you so, but we did,” said a researcher.

A polar bear falls through thin ice in Hudson Bay off the coast of Churchill, Manitoba in Canada.
A polar bear falls through thin ice in Hudson Bay off the coast of Churchill, Manitoba in Canada.   (Peter EWINS/WWF-Canada)
Ice floes form patterns in Baffin Bay above the arctic circle, July 10, 2008.
Ice floes form patterns in Baffin Bay above the arctic circle, July 10, 2008.   (AP Photo/Jonathan Hayward)
A polar bear swims near ice floes along the ice flow above the Arctic circle.
A polar bear swims near ice floes along the ice flow above the Arctic circle.   (AP Photo/Jonathan Hayward)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Guest
Jan 21, 2009 4:33 AM CST
We can do something about it ourselves, which apparently we have the technology to do. Or we can wait for the low lands to flood and for massive populations to move...and hope we're all human enough to not kill those moving populations or put them into disease-ridden slums...
Shannonals
Dec 27, 2008 2:30 AM CST
Greenhouse effect
Guest
Dec 16, 2008 1:48 AM CST
How does ice melt faster when it's 40 below instead of 50 below?

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